Paris, April 12 (NationPress) - Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri touched down in Paris on Sunday to participate in the India–France Foreign Office Consultations.

The Indian Embassy in France announced via a post on X: "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has arrived in Paris for the India–France Foreign Office consultations. This visit comes on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to India in February 2026, underscoring the ongoing high-level dialogue between India and Europe."

As per the statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Misri will co-chair the consultations alongside Martin Briens, the Secretary General of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They will engage in discussions covering various topics such as defense, civil nuclear energy, space, cybersecurity, digital innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and initiatives to enhance people-to-people relations and cultural connections. Additionally, global and regional developments will be part of the agenda.

During his stay in France, Misri is slated to meet several dignitaries and senior officials. Following his engagements in France, he will head to Germany to co-chair the Foreign Office Consultations with Geza Andreas von Geyr, the State Secretary of the German Foreign Office.

The MEA emphasized that this visit aligns with the earlier trips of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron to India in January and February 2026, respectively, reflecting the consistent high-level exchanges between India and Europe. This visit will serve as an opportunity to reassess the full scope of India’s bilateral relations with both nations and to further cooperation in key priority sectors.

During President Macron's visit to India in February, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship between India and France to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership”.

The leaders unveiled an ambitious roadmap focusing on defense, technology, and health, reaffirming their commitment to the Horizon 2047 vision, according to a government release.

This visit marked significant strides in defense manufacturing, aligning with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. They virtually inaugurated India’s first private helicopter Final Assembly Line in Vemagal, Karnataka.

This joint venture will manufacture the H125 light utility helicopter, with the inaugural “Made in India” unit anticipated by 2027. Bharat Electronics (BEL) and France’s Safran also formalized an agreement for the production of HAMMER precision-guided missiles in India.

Both countries have renewed their Agreement on Defense Cooperation, ensuring ongoing collaboration between the Indian Army and French Land Forces through reciprocal officer deployments.

The two leaders officially launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. PM Modi characterized the India-France partnership as a “force for global stability” in an increasingly unpredictable world.